Bed-pan.



J. C. GRIESEL.

BED PAN APPLICATlON FILED OCT. s, 1915.

1 1 1 ,GU l Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

1 N VEN TOR JOHN C. GEIESEL, OF I'O'JI'TSVILIE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM F. DOYLE, OF POTTSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

%TATEd PATENT UFFTfiE BED-PAN.

LJLSLUOT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916..

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. GRIESEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pottsville, in the county of Schuylkill and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Bed-Fan, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in bed pans, and the object is to provide means so that a pan may be supported along side of a bed, cot or the like, in a position to be used by the occupant or patient of the bed without subjecting the occupant or patient to any inconvenience.

With the bed pans now in general use, it is necessary to insert the bed pan heneath the patient, which is often-times disagreeable and painful to the patient, especially after an operation, when it is best for the patient to remain quiet and for the body to assume as flat a position as possible. The present invention overcomes these objections, as the patient can by lying on one side and projecting the hips a short distance over the side of the bed or cot, bring the rectum into such a position with respect to the pan, that an action of the bowels may be had without soiling the bedding or any discomfort to the patient. Furthernore, the bed pan may be used for Operations, syringing, draining, enenas, douching and the like.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of protectors in the form of water-proof sheeting, which is connected to two of the walls of the bed pan, one of the sheets or protectors being located between the bed or mattress, and the. patient, and the other sheet or protector extending over the body of the patient,' so that there is no danger of the bedding being soiled in performing the operation, and suflicent room is afforded so that access may be had to the body between the sheets or protectors.

The invention consists of certain novel features of Construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims. It is evident that changes in the form, proportion, material and ninor details of Construction within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the nvention.

In the accompanying drawingsz-Figure 1 1s a Vertical sectional View of the inventon, showing it applied to a bed; Fig. 2 is a perspectve View of the invention, showing the position assumed by the waterproof sheetng when in use; Fig. 3 is a detail sectonal View of the pan, on a reduced scale; Fg. 4; is an end View, on a reduced scale, showing the position assumed by the sheets or protectors when used for the purpose of carrying the bed pan; and F ig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view on a reduced scale of the invention, showing the position assumed by the parts when not in use and for shipping, .storage and display.

A, represents the mattress of a bed, and he foot post and 2 the head post, of the B, designates the bed pan, which is com- I posed of a bottom 3 and upright sides 4. An upright end 5 is connected to the rear terminals of the sides and bottom, for forming a closure. The forward end of the bottom 3 is curved upwardly as at 6, and the forward ends of the sides 4 are rounded on their lower edges to conform ,to the curvature of the bottom. The curved Construction of the forward end of the bed pan affords an outlet or spout in discharging the contents of the bed pan. A fiange 7 is formed on the upper edge of the end 5 and projects outwardly at right angles thereto for forming a handle' in emptying the bed pan. a

Connected to the sides 4 of the bed pan are sheets or protectors 8, which may be of any suitable waterproof material, such as rubber, oil cloth and the like. The upper edges 9 of the sides 4 are turned inwardly and downwardly for fastening the inner folded edges 10 of the sheets or protectors to the sides 4: of the bed pan. The outer terminals of the sheets or protectors 8 are beveled or tapered as at 11, and round wooden handles 12 are connected to the outer ends of the sheets or protectors. The ends of the sheets or protectors are wrapped around the wooden handles and fastened to the body of the sheets or protectors in any suitable manner, for holding the handles in place.

Located along the longitudinal edges of the bottom 3 and on the lower surface thereof, are straps 13, for the reception of the angularen ds lt of the guard 15. The guard is constructed preferably from a spring wireor rod, which is bent atits center forming 'two parallel members 16. The lower portion of the members 16 are straight' and engage the outer surface of one of the sides 4:. The members are curved or bowed from the upper edge of the side t, and project across' the'body of the pan.

Each of the sheets or protectors 8 is provided with 'a transverse strap 17 through which" the guard 15 extends forsupporting attendantcan be inserted between the sheets or= protectors for attending to the patient.

'Whenthe'device or apparatus is not in use the sheets may berolled on the wood handles and inserted within the bed p'an together i with the guard 15, as shown in Fig. 5.

The guard can be applied to either side `of the bed pan and to either sheet, so that the device ean be-placed along side of' either side of the bed. In some instances, the

v guard may not be us ed and especially* when the patient needs the tendant; e d v The bed pan can be'made of various sizes, but generally it will be: constructed say assistance of' an at`- i about eighteen inches long, 'furinches wide and-four inches deep, and may be made of any 'suitable material, such as rubber or metal.

p When the bed pan has been used, 'or it is desired to carry the same, the guard is removed, and'two sheets are placed together, so that 'both handles 12 can begrasped in one hand of the attendant, and by grasping the handle 7inthe other'h and, as shown in Fig.` 4, the contents of the'bed pan can be emptied. A V j A y V jltlwill be seen -from the foregong that I have 'provideda `simple device which canbe manufactured at a small cost, and which will 'be durable and eiiicient, andpossesses great utility -for the purposes designed.

When the bed pan is to be used by a patient, one' of the sheets is placed over the mattress and'beneath the patient so that the body of the patient will hold the pan along the side of the bed, and the other sheet will eXtend 'over the body-'of the patient and the handle thereof 'grasped by the patientfor maintaining theibed pan in proper position along the side ofthe bed. The guard will support the sheet -which extends over the bodyof the` patient, and hold it together with the bedding at an elevation sufi'icient to prevent the bedding froni beingsoled, and the sheet from coming in contact with the pat e e u e e 1Vhat 'I claim is a 1. In'combination with a' bed pan, a flexible waterproof sheet connected to the pan and' extending from the upper edge thereof and adapted to be projected laterally therefrom.

2. In combinationwth a bed pan, a flexible waterproof sheet connected to the pan and extending frm the upper edge andprojecting laterally therefrom, said sheet being placed beneath the patient for supporting the pan along the side of' the bed, the flexibility of the sheet permitting the latter to be rolled up and contained within the 'pan.

3. In combination with a bed pan, two flexible waterproof sheets connected to the pan and extendingfrom the upper edge of the same, one of saidsheets beingplaced beneath the patient for supporting the pan along the side of the bed, while the other sheet'extends over. the body of the patient, the fiexibility of thesheets permitting them to be rolled up'- and oontained within the pan when not in use. e

4. A bed pan comprising sides,a bottom and ends, flexible waterproof sheets connected to the upper edges of the sides and extending therert'rom, one of the'sheets being placed beneath the patient for supporting the pan along the side of a bed, and the other sheet eXtending over the body of the patient for protecting'the bedding, said sheets having coacting handles.

5. Abed pan comprising sides, a bottomand ends, fiexible I waterproof sheets connected to the upper edgesof the sids and extending therefrom, one` of the sheets being placed beneath the patient for supporting the pan along the side' of a bed, and the other sheet extending over the body of the patient, and means connected to the pan for supporting the last nentioned Sheet so th at the bedding may be' protected.

6. A bed pan having fleXible' waterproof sheets eXtending front the upper edgesof the sides, one of said sheets extending'overthe body of the patient and formed witha handle to be grasped by' the han'dodf* the patient for assisting in holding the pan along the side of a bed, and 'the' other sheet being located beneathsthe body of the "patient.

` 7. Incombination with a bed-pan, a flexible sheet connected to the pan and extending from the upper edge of 'the same, and a guard connected to the pan and to' thesh'eet for supporting the :latter above and out of contact Wlth the body of 'the patient;

8. In combination with a bed pan, a flexible sheet connected to the pan 'and 'extending from the'upper edgeof the' same, and a guard connected to the pan and also connected to the sheet, both connections being detachable, the sheet being longer than the guard, so that it projects beyond the same and may be grasped by the patient.

9. A bed pan having flexible waterproof sheets connected to the upper edges of the sides, one of the sheets being received beneath the body of a patient and the other sheet extending over the body, a strap connected to the bottom of the bed pan, a guard having angular ends received between the strap and bottom of the pan for connectng the guard to the bed pan, and a strap on the sheet extending over the body of the patient through which strap the guard extends for supporting the sheet above the pan and holding the bedding SO that it Will not be Soiled.

10. A bed pan, comprising sides, bottom and ends, fleXible Waterproof sheets connected to the upper edges of the sides, one

of the sheets being received beneath the body of a patient for holding the bed pan along the side of a bed, and the other sheet extending over the body and grasped by the hand of the patient for holding the pan in position, straps on the bottom of the bed pan, a curved guard having angular ends received in one of the straps of the pan for connecting the guard to the bed pan, and straps on the sheets, said guard being adapted to eXtend through the strap on one of the sheets for holding the sheet above the patient and maintain the bedding at an elevation so that it will not be soiled.

In testmony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN C. GRIESEL.

Witnesses:

M. P. MCLOUGHLIN, ED. A. ZWIEBEL, Jr.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patenta, Washington, D. c. 

